The love locks are back, but not for long.
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Roads and Maritime Services has confirmed it will remove all padlocks from Sea Cliff Bridge, dashing the hopes of hundreds of couples looking to share their eternal love with one of the Illawarra’s favourite views.
More than 150 locks have been attached to the fence and gabion baskets at the southern end of Sea Cliff Bridge, despite signs along the popular walkway banning the practice.
Among them is a red lock declaring the love of Makiyo and Alison, while another simply states ‘‘In loving memory of Mum/Dad, Nan/Pop, 2014’’.
Many – like Peter and Sarah’s – bear a date, though one anonymous couple was content to hope for ‘‘happiness today and always’’.
Love locks are an international craze in which couples engrave their names on padlocks and fix them to landmarks, particularly bridges, to symbolise unbreakable love.
‘‘Roads and Maritime Services recognises love locks are significant to people leaving them on bridges around the world, including the Sea Cliff Bridge,’’ a spokeswoman said.
‘‘[However, RMS] discourages placing locks on bridges and removes them to prevent corrosion, rust and structural damage which can be caused by the additional weight.’’
In June, 2014, a mesh section of the Pont des Arts footbridge over the Seine, in Paris, collapsed under the weight of thousands of ‘‘love locks’’.
The RMS confirmed locks on the bridge railing would be removed by the end of the week, and would be held for a month for the owners to collect.
A plan is being developed to remove the locks from the gabion baskets and to look for a more permanent solution.
‘‘Roads and Maritime and Wollongong City Council are working together to build a permanent structure near the bridge dedicated to ‘love locks’ and other memorial locks,’’ a spokeswoman said.
‘‘The structure is in the design stage and the community will be kept informed as the project progresses.’’
It is the second time the RMS has been forced to take action to remove padlocks from the site, having engaged a locksmith to unlock hundreds from the bridge in September, 2012.
In May, 2012, Wollongong City Council took bolt cutters to 400 ‘‘love locks’’ attached to the Mount Keira lookout, citing damage to public property.
Since the sentimental phenomenon swept the Illawarra in 2012, Wollongong councillor Chris Connor has suggested council install purpose-built ‘‘love lock trees’’ or sculptures at lock hot spots.